Council sets aside £45,000 amid uncertainty over Scarborough Town Hall future
Scarborough Town Council has approved a new budget in case it has to make ‘difficult choices’.
The Reform-led council approved a revised 2026-27 budget which reshaped spending priorities while leaving the authority’s £380,000 precept unchanged at a meeting on Tuesday, August 25.
The creation of a new assets and infrastructure budget worth £161,000 was also approved, which includes £20,000 earmarked for amenities responsibilities, £45,000 for premises contingencies, £70,000 for Christmas lights and £10,000 for allotment maintenance.
Cllr William Stuart said: “Responsible financial management is not simply about setting budgets, but about the decisions we make every day, questioning expenditure, seeking value for money and applying discipline in spending residents’ money.
“We have shown restraint in our own costs and more than £4,000 has been saved from the training budget, and in 2025-26, only £39.90 was spent from the mayoral expenses budget.”
Commenting on the allocation of £45,000 for premises contingencies, Cllr Stuart said that “one of the biggest questions that we will face over the next year or two is the future of our town hall”.
This spring, the controversial purchase of Resolution House in Scarborough by the A64, for an undisclosed sum by North Yorkshire Council, was approved.
Staff will be moved from Scarborough Town Hall and Ryedale House, and customer access points will be created in Scarborough and Malton as part of the plan.
Cllr Stuart said: “Members of this council, from all sides, stood together in opposing North Yorkshire Council’s decision to move staff out of the town and leave these offices vacant.
"We believe it was the wrong decision, but we now have to ask ourselves, what happens next?
“If circumstances ultimately leave this council with difficult choices to make, none of those choices will be cost-free.
"There may be costs associated with relocating staff, adapting materials and accommodation, leasing or purchasing premises or implementing whatever decision is ultimately taken – setting aside funds to do that does not predetermine tomorrow’s decision.”
While the community grants budget was increased slightly from January’s budget from £19,000 to £22,500, councillors highlighted the reduction from last year’s community grants allocation of £50,000.
Labour’s Coun Chris Clark said that he was supportive of overall savings made but added that “we can improve the balance a bit” and called for “any surplus money to go back into community grants increases”.
He added: “Events come and go, but community grants have a big impact for organisations that can truly help the town.”
The revised budget was approved unanimously by councillors at the authority’s full meeting on Tuesday, August 25.